the anatomy of editorial life (11/22)

I’m sure there’s a fancier term to be used but I think of publishing as an exterior and an interior job.

The interior parts called to me when I saw myself as an introverted book lover: hours and hours spent reading submissions; editing, or living inside, a manuscript; writing love letters to authors and agents . . .

The exterior parts surprised me, but I’ve learned to love them: networking with agents and fellow publishing professionals; problem-solving with the team; enthusiastically pitching books to your marketing, publicity, and sales teams; advertising your books on social media . . .

There will never be a balance. You just need to be ready to switch from one side to the other.

the start of something . . . (10/31)

My website started as a blog for my journalism class, then it became a place for all my writerly thoughts, and now it serves as an introduction to me as an author and as an editor. I’m truly glad that people decided to visit my website.

I miss when I was able to post pieces here and there, and receive comments from readers. I tried and failed to maintain a monthly newsletter called Dispatches from the Desk of Loan Le. So, I think I’m going to start up a blog again, but I won’t force myself to write just for the sake of posting something. My posts might be short. Or they might be long. I might not post again until 2024. Who knows.

But I have so many thoughts about writing and editing, and my brain feels crowded at times. I need to unload.

Thanks for indulging me.

Loan